bamboo mug

Why choose a bamboo mug ? Aware of the impact of single-use products, mainly plastic, on health and the environment, we are increasingly choosing reusable products. The bamboo mug is a best seller in this field. It was born as an alternative to the plastic cup when France was throwing away 4.7 billion plastic cups per year*.

Today, plastic cups are banned and have been replaced in some places by bamboo mugs . They are prohibited for take-out and at the coffee machine, they have been replaced by paper cups. Not healthier, not necessarily more ecological because many are covered with a plastic film, they remain disposable products. So the bamboo mug and its image of a natural and ecological product has become the ideal solution. Light, pretty, the bamboo mug can now be found everywhere in various colors and models. Do you feel the great disillusion coming?

What is bamboo?

The bamboo used to make the bamboo mug is an ubiquitous plant in Asian culture, and has been for several millennia. The wood from its stems is commonly used in the manufacture of houses, furniture and many other everyday objects such as bamboo mugs . Young bamboo shoots, turions, are present in many traditional Asian dishes. Finally, different parts of bamboo are used for therapeutic purposes. But that's not all, it is also used for the manufacture of kitchen utensils such as cutlery or bamboo mugs in our case.

In traditional Asian medicine, bamboo leaves are recommended for their anti-inflammatory, diuretic, fortifying and anti-diarrheal properties. The seeds are also used as a diuretic and laxative, and the roots associated with antiseptic, analgesic and astringent activities. Nothing to do with the properties of the bamboo mug !

Over the centuries, bamboo has aroused great interest around the world, especially in cooking with the famous bamboo mug . Its traditional therapeutic uses have been the subject of several studies. During these studies, the researchers made a startling discovery. While traditional uses concern the leaves, seeds and roots of bamboo, scientists have become interested in the therapeutic properties of another part: the resin. Now known as bamboo tabashir, bamboo resin has been shown to be a powerful anti-rheumatic substance. This is not useful for making bamboo mugs .

Bamboo-culture

There are several hundred species of bamboo. They are not all used in the manufacture of bamboo mugs . All grow wild and extremely fast. However, they are not all of the same interest. In herbal medicine, the most popular species is Bambusa arundinacea. To a lesser extent, the Bambusa vulgaris species can also be used for therapeutic purposes. Don't worry, nothing happens when you drink your tea or coffee from a bamboo mug .

The Bambusa arundinacea species is believed to originate from China and India, but is now cultivated in many other regions of the world. This bamboo particularly likes hot countries with a tropical climate.

What is a bamboo mug?

What is commonly called a bamboo mug is not, contrary to what one might think, made only with bamboo. Sometimes it even contains very little. It is a mixture of vegetable powder such as corn and bamboo and a plastic resin: melamine. Most bamboo mugs available on the market contain up to 60% melamine.